Bad actors are using more aggressive and unscrupulous tactics to acquire personal data and extort ransoms
TOKYO, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ransomware and extortion incidents surged by 67% in 2023, according to NTT Security Holdings recently released 2024 Global Threat Intelligence Report.

Created by NTT Security Holdings Global Threat Intelligence Center, the report examines cybersecurity trends, provides insights on the threat landscape, and offers recommendations to help organizations better protect against cyberattacks.
After a down year in 2022, ransomware and extortion incidents increased in 2023. More than 5,000 ransomware victims were detected or posted across multiple social channels up from approximately 3,000 in 2022. These findings are based on NTT Security Holdings Global Threat Intelligence Center’s internal research and by compiling listings on extortion sites, Telegram channels, and public reporting and disclosures. The number of victims is likely higher because the research does not reflect incidents where ransoms were paid before the listing was made public.
“Our 2023 report highlighted the increase in cyberthreats affecting day to day life, economic conditions, and privacy,” said Jeremy Nichols, NTT Security Holdings’ Global Threat Intelligence Center director. “We expect this to soar in 2024 as threat actors create more sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence to exploit growing attack surfaces and take advantage of limited cyber budgets and staff shortages.”
Key insights from the 2024 report
Critical infrastructure, supply chain, and financial services face the most risk. The top sectors threat actors are attacking require near perfect uptime because service disruptions can affect lives, making them more likely to pay a ransom to restore access to their vital systems and data. Manufacturing topped the list of attack sectors in 2023 at 25.66% and had the most ransomware victims posted on social channels with 27.75%.
Ransomware operators and affiliates are using less moral and ethical tactics to obtain payments. They are targeting sectors previously considered off limits, including healthcare, non-profits, and energy companies. They have threatened to release sensitive medical photos or patient records if ransoms are not paid.
Small and medium-sized enterprises face the largest challenge combating cyberthreats. More than 50% of ransomware victims had less than 200 employees while 66% had less than 500 employees, according to the research.
Threat actors continue to exploit vulnerabilities and zero days in the most popular software programs. The list of corporate software options and new vulnerabilities continues to increase while malicious software simultaneously evolves, using generative AI to quickly integrate and exploit high and critical severity vulnerabilities.
Humans remain the weakest link in cybersecurity, and it is getting worse. Hybrid cloud environments, bring your own device, and third-party integrations have expanded the attack surface for most organizations. Cybersecurity roles and responsibilities are expanding, cyber budgets are getting slashed, and there are more tools to complete these responsibilities, increasing staff fatigue and burnout.
“Organizations are struggling to defend against routine exploitation, malware, and ransom or extortion threats,” added Nichols. “The predictions and recommendations in our report offer business and technical leaders a roadmap to make quicker and informed decisions to improve their security posture as these threats exponentially escalate.”
Access the Full Report
For a comprehensive understanding of the most frequent cyberattacks, predictions for future attacks, and recommendations for safeguarding organizations against evolving threats, download the complete 2024 Global Threat Intelligence Report at https://www.security.ntt/global-threat-intelligence-report-2024.
About NTT Security Holdings
NTT Security Holdings, a Group company, provides proactive cyber defense and services that make use of gathered human resources and intelligence to protect our customers and society. For more than 20 years, our company has helped clients protect their digital businesses by predicting, detecting, and responding to cyberthreats, while supporting business innovation and managing risk. Our SOC, R&D centers and security experts deliver unsurpassed threat intelligence and handle hundreds of thousands of security incidents annually. Together, we secure the connected future.
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Euromonitor International’s new AI-powered Passport Innovation platform tracked new brand launches by country, retailer and category, from 2021 to identify how new products proliferate or get discontinuedPassport Innovation monitors 54 disruptive fast moving consumer goods categories across 32 countries and can tell if new brands are failing or succeedingLONDON, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly one third of brands launched in 2022 were discontinued by the end of 2023, revealed market research company Euromonitor International.

The findings came from Euromonitor International’s new artificial intelligence (AI) powered Passport Innovation platform, which monitors e-commerce data and tracks the product lifecycles of newly launched brands across markets and online retailers to inform decision-making on product innovation.
4000 new brands were launched in just 2023, finds Euromonitor Passport Innovation
In 2023, Euromonitor detected more than 4,000 new brand launches and over 33,000 new sub-brand launches across the 32 global markets, 50 categories and online-retailers on its radar.
From 2021 to 2023, analysts watched more than 11,000 new brands and some 105,000 sub-brands launch on to the global market. Most new launches were line extensions for brands, with almost 3,000 new sub-brands on average launching each month.
Overall, Euromonitor analysts identified that there is a less than 60% chance new products will survive in the market in the long term.
The US dominates product innovation launches catering for vast population and high disposable incomes
The super six countries of product innovation – the US, Germany, India, France, Brazil, and the UK – contributed to more than 50% of all new brands and sub-brands identified by Euromonitor’s Passport Innovation platform in 2023.
The US dominated innovation activity in 2023, with 16% of all detected new brands and sub-brands in 2023, followed by Germany with 9%.
With its vast and varied population and significant disposable income, the US stands out as a prime market for testing new products before expanding into others. It offers attractive opportunities for companies seeking to gauge product viability and consumer interest.
Passport Innovation reveals ‘roll-out to phase-out’ product information
Euromonitor International’s Passport Innovation product will equip businesses with the unrivalled ability to track a product’s lifecycle from roll-out to phase-out with real time information. The artificial intelligence-powered (AI) database will empower businesses to identify and track new brand and sub-brand launches from January 2021 onwards.
The categories covered are drinks including hot, alcoholic, and soft drinks; food and nutrition including packaged food; health and beauty including consumer health, beauty and personal care, and tissues and hygiene; and home products covering home care and pet foods.
Brad Borgman, Chief Innovation Officer at Euromonitor International, said: “We have been investing in large language models and have developed a state-of-the art database that identifies and tracks new product launches with unprecedented speed. It is a unique platform where companies can learn how these new products proliferate across retailers, countries, categories and see how they evolve in terms of attributes.
“Businesses will also be able to gain unparalleled insight into consumer purchasing preferences and assess how brands are responding. We can provide detailed answers to questions on product attributes and features, brand expansion and decline, markets with most new product launches and timings, product testing, and the players in the market that most frequently launch brands.”
Stella Vatcheva, Senior Head of Practice for Innovation at Euromonitor International, said: “This is the only NPD platform that exclusively monitors e-commerce data, where most products are likely to launch first. Our Passport Innovation clients will be the first to know which new brands are failing or succeeding, with up-to-date information on whether a new product is expanding or being dropped by e-retailers. They will be able to visualise a new product’s evolution over time, with detailed summaries of attributes and positioning.”
For more information visit Euromonitor International’s Passport Innovation platform hub.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Euromonitor’s Passport Innovation platform includes: 
Extensive monitoring of 54 disruptive consumer goods categories and sub-categories across 32 countries- Countries covered include Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America, United Arab Emirates and Singapore.- Industries include 27 categories across Food and Beverage including Soft Drinks, Hot Drinks, Alcoholic Drinks, Packaged Foods and Pet Food plus 27 categories across Beauty, Health and Home including Consumer Health, Beauty and Personal Care Home Care, Tissues and HygieneSearchable database of new brands and sub-brands alongside attributes and availabilityMachine Learning models that interrogate the data to identify when brands and sub-brands are seen for the first time on retailers’ digital shelfThe only New Product Development platform that exclusively monitors e-commerce data where most products are likely to launch firstContact:  Euromonitor International Press [email protected]  +44 (0)20 7251 8024

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Recognised as a Leader for Global WAN Services
MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tata Communications, the global commtech (communications technology) player, proudly announces that it has been recognised as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Global WAN Services for the 11th consecutive year. The evaluation from Gartner was based on specific criteria that analysed the company’s overall Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

During the course of the year, to enable global enterprises to become more resilient and future-ready, Tata Communications empowered them to deliver elevated customer experiences — through enhanced network performance, flexibility and availability. It also introduced new and innovative solutions like IZO™ Multi Cloud Connect and a ‘zero-base bandwidth’ option for WAN links. Furthermore, it provided enterprises with the fastest and flexible ways to modernise their network with Cloud-Connect enabled, ‘Bandwidth-on-Demand’ offering speed, convenience and cost efficiency on a pay-as-you-go model. Finally, Tata Communications further strengthened its internet services with proactive security at both enterprise and branch levels.
“We appreciate this recognition by Gartner for the eleventh consecutive year and remain focussed to deliver ‘future ready’ networks for delightful customer experiences. As the pace of innovation accelerates towards the next generation of connectivity, we will continue to provide flexible network options that serve a diverse spectrum of business requirements,” said Genius Wong, Executive Vice President – Core and Next-Gen Connectivity Services & Chief Technology Officer, Tata Communications. Adding, “Tata Communications leverages its investments in innovation, contextual knowledge, and expertise in next-gen technologies to develop a digital fabric of solutions which helps our customers realise their aspirations.”
As per the report, providers in the Leaders quadrant are performing well and maintaining a stable organisation, with a clear vision of market direction. They deliver comprehensive portfolios of quality network services across the broadest geographies and address the global networking needs of a broad range of enterprises in terms of size, geographic distribution and vertical industry. Leaders shape the direction of the market by extending their coverage, developing new class-leading capabilities and commercial models, and deploying them at scale. According to Gartner, Leaders execute well against their current vision and are well positioned for tomorrow. 
Gartner Disclaimer
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global WAN Services, Danellie Young, Bjarne Munch, Karen Brown, Lisa Pierce, Gaspar Valdivia, 15 April 2024
The report was published as Magic Quadrant for Network Services, Global from 2015-23 and as Magic Quadrant for Global Network Service Providers from 2012-14.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About Tata Communications
A part of the Tata Group, Tata Communications (NSE: TATACOMM) (BSE: 500483) is a global digital ecosystem enabler powering today’s fast-growing digital economy in more than 190 countries and territories. Leading with trust, it enables digital transformation of enterprises globally with collaboration and connected solutions, core and next gen connectivity, cloud hosting and security solutions and media services. 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are its customers and the company connects businesses to 80% of the world’s cloud giants. For more information, please visit www.tatacommunications.com
Forward-looking and cautionary statements
Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited’s Annual Reports. 
The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.
© 2024 Tata Communications Ltd. All rights reserved.
TATA COMMUNICATIONS and TATA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tata Sons Private Limited in India and certain countries.
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